Prior to purchasing and hanging your closet rods, proper planning is needed. Think about the types of items you will be hanging, the quantities of the items, as well as the length of the items. For example, hanging pants will require much more length than hanging shirts. You should also consider the design of your closet -- whether or not you want single rods or if you want to install a double rod. A double rod will give you two rows to hang clothing on. Also, take into consideration if you want to use the tops of your rods for shelving for items such as shoes and purses.
If you will be hanging a single closet rod, your rod should be position 60 to 72 inches from the floor. There are also special circumstances to take into consideration, especially if you are planning a closet for a child or a wheelchair bound individual. For ease during use, the closet rod should be hung 48 inches from the floor.
For double rods, the upper for should be position at approximately 80 and 1/4 inch from the floor. The bottom rod should be positioned at 39 and 1/4 inches from the floor. Double rods are commonly used in the hanging of multiple rows of shirts. Before hanging the bottom row, consider hanging your longer items on the top rod. This will allow you to see if there is enough room for your clothing.
Prior to hanging your closet rods, it is a good idea to plan your closet on paper. Once you have designed your ideal organizational structure, take measurements of your closet. Measure the height of the floor to the ceiling as well as the length of the wall(s) in your closet. This will allow you to buy the appropriate-sized rods for your closet. You may also want to outline your closet in pencil on the wall prior to installing the wall brackets to hang up your closet rods.